powell



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet l W. H. POWELL. PORTABLE DRY CLOSET.

No. 445,513. Patented Jan. 27, 1891.

} 2 Sheets-Sheet 2. POWELL. PORTABLE DRY CLOSET.

(No Model.)

Patented Jan.

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Unites States Patent Orricn.

lVILLlAM H. POlVELL, OF XVASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, ASSIGNOR TO DAVID P. XVOLHAUPTER, OF SAME PLACE.

PORTABLE DRY CLOSET.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 445,513, dated January 2'7, 1891.

Application filed December 9, 1890. Serial No. 374,031- (No model.)

To ctZZ whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM H. POWELL, a citizen of the United States, residing at \Vashington, in the District of Columbia, have 5 invented a new and useful Portable Dry Closet, of which the following is a specilieation.

My invention relates to an improvement in closets.

It is designed especially for use in military posts, camps, villages, and farms where there is no sewerage, which always occasions great inconveniences and unhealthy localities. In military posts and camps particularly it is well known 1he difficulties met with in havin g to have the ordinary permanent dry closet that is continually dirty and emit-ting forth noxious and unhealthy odors, and consequently has to be continually replaced with new ones, and is quite difficult and repugnant to cleanse. The same objections apply to all places without any sewerage system. It is also found in military service a matter of great objection in having to dig holes in the ground to bury the excrement, which cannot be carried to any distance from the post or camp, and therefore is also a matter of great sanitary importance. It is with the view of obviating all the diffieultics mentioned that this invention is made.

It has for its object to provide, primarily, a simple, durable, and inexpensive closet to meet the needs, general and specific, hereinbefore stated; to provide one that is always neat in appearance, one that iseasily handled, both in cleansing and removal, and that can be readily transported from one place to another,especially adapted in this use for employment in military encampinents; and it consists of a removable receptacle provided with details designed particularly to suit the needs and nature of such an article, which are hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and

specifically pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figurel is a perspective view of my improved closet closed and ready for removal. Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the closet ready for use, but with all the parts thrown open, showing .and transportation of the device.

the mode of handling the same. Figs. 3 and .4 are detail sectional and perspective views, respectively. Fig. 5 is a sectional view of an outhouse with my device in position for use, and Fig. U is aview showing the closet ready for use in conjunction with a tentfor military and other encampments.

Like letters of reference indicate like parts in the several figures.

Referring to the drawings, A designates a tank or receptacle constructed of heavy sheet-iron or boiler-iron, which latter is preferred, the same being firmly riveted together to form a receptacle oblong in shape with sides preferably diverging from the bottom upward; but the structure may be of course right-angularly shaped or of any desired shape. A band of iron (0 is riveted around the entire upper edge of the tank to strengthen the sameand to preserve its original form and shape.

Strong metallic axles B B are securely bolted to the front and rear of receptacle A, said axles being provided on their spindles at either end with small heavy wheels b I), thus providing ready means for the removal To the forward axle is pivotally attached draft-arms O O, terminating in front in a loop or eye (3, to which a singletree or hook I.) can be easily attached for the purposes set forth.

The rear end of receptacle A is provided with a sliding gate E, that works in a groove 0, which is formed by strongly riveting to the sides and bottom of the tankiron strips 6 (2', extending from the top of one side along the bottom and to the top of the opposite side. This gate is designed to be operated by a handle 1 secured to its upper edge, by which 0 the gate is raised and lowered when desired.

A cover G is attached by hinges g to the front side (designated as such on account of its mode of usage) of the tank, and is designed to be of a breadth sufficient to snugly 5 close the top of the closet when it is desired to be removed or cleansed, and at the same time while the device is ready for use to hang down in front and serve as a foot-board, presenting the appearance of the ordinary dry 10o closet and thus serving a double function.

A top H, provided with a series of seatopenings 7b, is detachably connected to the top of the tank by means of slidinghinges h, which are composed of the registering members 71, and 71 said top being hinged on the side opposite to that on which the cover and. front foot-board G are hinged. Strips 7L4 may be employed to strengthen the top II and to keep the same from warping, &c., from exposure; but any other minor details may be added to complete a top desirable for such a structure. The seat-openings h are provided with the ordinary supplemental covers 7r, or all the openings may be covered by a single cover secured to the top, either means being used, of course, to confine the odors if found necessary, but it is a matter of option, astheir use or omission does not alter the nature of my invention. This detachable cover II is designed to be removed completely from the tank and laid aside when the apparatus is ready for removal and cleansing, and is replaced when the same is again ready for use, and said top is so constructed as to overlap the front edge of the tank a slight degree to give the same purchase on the tank as well as for appearance and comfort.

The operation of my invention is now thought to be apparent. \Vhen ready for use, the top provided with scat-openings is slid in position on its hinges and dropped over the top of the tank, while the permanently-hinged cover is swung down in front of the tank to serve as a front and a footboard. After the receptacle is filled sufficiently for cleansing, or whenever it is desired to cleanse, said top having the seat-openings is detached from the tank and set aside, the other cover thrown over the top of the tank, a hook attached to the draft-rod and the receptacle drawn off. By now throwing the cover open and raising the end gate it is ready for cleansing. Where there is running water the tank is rolled into the creek or stream, and the same thus can be easily deprived of its contents, and in case there is no running water convenient all that is necessary to do is to tip the tank on end or otherwise and deposit the excrement in the cus tomary pits dug for its reception, and on account of its portability the deposits can be made at a greater distance from the locality from which it was removed, and thus avoid the serious objections of having these excrement-pits in the immediate vicinity of dwellings, more particularly applying to military posts and encampment-s.

The applications of this apparatus can also now be readily seen. In school-houses, villages, posts, and the like, a small Outhouse, as I, (shown in Fig. 5,) can be used, into which the receptacle can be rolled for use and out for removal and cleansing, and in military and other cncampments a tent, as indicated by J in Fig. 6, is used for the purpose of housing the same.

Having described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s

1. In a dry closet, a portable tank, a top provided with seat-openings detachably connected to said tank, and a cover designed to inclose the top of the same after the removal of said detachable top, substantially as set forth.

2. In a dry closet, a portable tank, a detachable top provided with'seat-openings secured to the tank, and a cover permanently hinged to said tank and designed to cover the top of the same after the removal of said detachable top and to be swung down for use as a foot-board when said top is in position, substantially as set forth.

3. In a dry closet, a portable tank, a sliding end gate working within the tank at one end, a detachable top provided with seat-openings secured to the tank by sliding hinges, and a cover permanently hinged to said tank and designed to cover the top of the same after the removal of said detachable top, substantially as set forth.

4. In a dry closet, a tank formed of sections of sheet metal riveted together and mounted on wheel-carrying axles, draft-bars pivotally secured to the forward axle, a sliding end gate working in a groove within the tank at one end, said groove being formed by parallel strips firmly secured to the inner sides and bottom of the tank, a detachable top provided with seat-openings attached to the tank by sliding hinges, and a cover permanently hinged to said tank and designed to cover the top of the same after the removal of said detachable top, and to be swung down as a footboard when said top is in position, substantially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

\VM. II. POIVELL.

Witnesses:

J. H. SIooERs, W. E. WoLHAUPTER. 

